Truck drivers’ strike which started on August 23, interrupting flow of goods to South Sudan and raising fears the Juba may soon run short of supplies has entered week two.
The truck drivers are protesting against incessant attacks on the Juba-Yei road, as well as the Juba-Nimule- road leading to Uganda.
The strike, at Elegu border post on the Uganda-South Sudan border has continued in spite of assurances by Ugandan and South Sudan authorities to provide joint security patrol for cargo trucks from Nimule-Juba and from Juba-Nimule.
In March, the killing of eight Ugandan drivers sparked protests at Elegu paralysing flow of goods and travel to Juba.
Truck drivers from Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundian have demanded improved security on the routes.
Chairman of Regional Lorry Drivers and Transporters Association, Byron Kinene said “The drivers want assurance from East African Community (EAC) Secretariat on improving security along the Nimule-Juba highway.”
Kinene said that during meetings South Sudan officials always promise to deploy security agents to guard transporters but they renege on implementation of what has been agreed on, with regional drivers.
Kinene argued that the highway connecting Juba to the rest of East Africa has been plagued by insecurity since 2017 thereby leaving truckers vulnerable to attacks from armed militias.
The attacks have alarmed the EABC, which is now pushing South Sudan to ensure security along the transport route.
Osborn Oceng, Amuru District Resident District Commissioner, last Friday said cargo supply to Juba has been disrupted with 1,200 trucks parked at Elegu border post and on the highway in Uganda.